Unless you live in a location where winters manage to remain staggeringly hot throughout the season, chances are that you’re going to winterize your pool so that it stays in good condition, especially when it’s not in use for a considerable amount of time. But with that in mind, there’s a lot that goes into winterizing a pool. Making sure that you’re taking all the right steps can mean the difference between having to conduct minimal maintenance and facing major issues that cost you a great deal of time and money. Whether you’re new to pool ownership or looking to brush up on your knowledge, here’s what you should do before closing your pool this year and every year after.
Buy Your Pool Closing Supplies in Advance
Nothing is worse than having to scramble to get your hands on the materials that you need to keep your pool in good condition each winter. Fortunately, most products are a one-time investment that you will continue to use each time you close your pool. Now’s the time to shop for materials like pool covers, winter pool plugs, brass anchors, anchor hex keys, and more.
Conduct a Deep Clean and Filtration a Week Before Closing Your Pool
Taking care to clean and filter your pool a week before closing is among the most important activities that will play a role in how well your pool is maintained after it’s winterized. Of course, this is an extensive process. Some of the tasks that you will need to deal with include:
- Cleaning Your Pool: Cleaning your pool is something that should be done immediately before closing. Make sure to remove any debris and clean the walls so that these things don’t prove to be an issue throughout the winter. You should also add stain and scale prevention to keep your pool clean after it has been closed.
- Test and Balance the Pool Water: Is your pool water healthy and in good condition? Now is the time to check it. Get it tested and make any necessary adjustments to pH levels, calcium hardness, and alkalinity.
- Run Your Pump: 24/7 filtration is crucial before closing, and you should be running your filter for several days non-stop to make sure that the water is as pure as possible. You can even add a clarifier to the mix for superior results. Just make sure to backwash and chemically clean your filter before closing!
- Shock Your Pool: Shocking your pool on the day of closing eliminates any algae that could potentially grow over the winter. Take care of this before you do any cleaning.
- Check Water Levels: Double-check that there’s plenty of water in the pool before you close for the winter.
- Drain Your Pool Lines: If you live somewhere with especially freezing winters, the last thing that you want to have to deal with is damaged pipes. Drain your pool lines before closing to avoid costly repairs.
Conduct Regular Samples and Maintenance as Needed
Once you do close your pool, your work isn’t quite done! You must check your water even after you’ve closed so that there are no changes throughout the winter that could affect pool quality before you open it back up. Get a small sample now and again to check the water quality and make any adjustments to the pool that are needed as they show up.
Need Support With Closing and Maintenance? Scott Payne Custom Pools Is Here to Help!
Pool maintenance can be tricky, especially regarding closing a pool and trying to tackle it all by yourself. We here at Scott Payne Custom Pools offer the pool servicing support you’ll need to keep your pool in stellar condition. Whether you’re searching for pool service in Bucks County or pool companies in Levittown, PA, we’re here for you! Get in touch with us today so we can learn how we can support you.
